A Message from MassBudget’s Board of Directors
As announced earlier this month, MassBudget’s President Marie-Frances Rivera will be stepping down at the end of September. The entire Board congratulates Marie-Frances on her outstanding leadership and dedicated service.
The Board is excited to announce that long-time staff member, Dr. Phineas Baxandall, will serve as Interim President. Currently leading the research team as Policy Director, he will be stepping into the role beginning in October.
Baxandall has a long history as a researcher in public policy deeply involved in improving policy, especially at the state level and in Massachusetts. In his nearly eight years at MassBudget, Dr. Baxandall has served in numerous leadership capacities including Policy Director and Advocacy Director. He has authored over 100 publications, from action-oriented policy reports, to peer-reviewed journal articles and an academic book on the political economy of unemployment. He has taken part in several government working groups and is a regular commentator in Massachusetts news outlets.
His policy knowledge and advocacy acumen have been instrumental in the organization’s greatest achievements. During his tenure, Dr. Baxandall’s extensive policy expertise has ensured that MassBudget’s research and analysis, communications, advocacy, and partnership building are of the highest caliber.
Before joining MassBudget, Dr. Baxandall directed the Transportation and Tax & Budget programs for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and its network of 30 state affiliate organizations. His track record also includes work at the Taubman Center for State and Local Government and the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. At Harvard he also taught for eight years for the Committee for Degrees in Social Studies, where he lectured on social policy and political economy.
Deeply trusted by staff and partners, Phineas’ integrity, collegiality, and steadfast commitment to social justice and equity in all its dimensions positions him as a strong leader for MassBudget during this transition. We are proud to have Dr. Baxandall serve as our Interim President.
The Board thanks Dr. Baxandall for enthusiastically accepting this new leadership role as we embark on a national search to identify the organization’s next president.
With Trust in Our Collective Power,
Dr. Alexandra Piñeros Shields
Chair, Board of Directors, MassBudget
